Improvement in fence-posts



,JOEL F. KEELER.

Improvement in Fence-Posts.

Patente'dfMarch 19, 1872.

A'rns TENT Error..

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Speccation forming part of Letters Patent No: 124,686, dated March 19, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Wooden Fence-Posts, invented by JOEL F. KEELER, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania.

The :first part of my invention relates to the peculiar combination of two pieces of wood in the construction of my post, in such a manner that the greatest amount of resistance to the pressure of the wind or other force is obtained for the least amount of material employed. The second part relates to the combination and construction or form of its parts, which prevents the frost from heaving it out of the ground, while it is prevented from settling too far into it. The third part relates to the mode of setting the post, whereby a greater rmness of setting' is obtained than by the usual method of digging out the post-hole and afterward refilling it.

Figure l is a perspective of my fencepost. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view ofthe same set in the ground and made into a fence. Fig. 4 is a perspective of my post-hole former or digger.

A is the upright or main part of my fencepost, which should be of sufficient size and strength to resist, when made into. a fence, the pressure that it mayhave to endure. For an ordinary fence of six feet or less in height a size of three inches thickness by six inches in width at 4the bottom, and three inches by three inch- V es at the top, if made of good, straight-grained timber, will besuiiicient size for this upright part of the post. 'It is made sharp at bottom to facilitate driving it into the ground. B is the cross or horizontal part of the post. It must be of sufficient thickness and strength to resist the thrust of the wind and other forces against the side of the fence, being set in the same direction as the boards of the fence. It is made of one or more pieces, usually one inch in thickness by one foot to two feet in width, and six inches to one foot in length-that is, with the grain running across the upright A. This will be sufficient for size. It isV placed, as specially shown in Fig. 2, in a groove or slot, B', Fig. 5, cut into the bottom of the post,

and bolted or otherwise fastened therein. C C are stops to prevent the post from settling too `far into the ground. They are merely pieces of board or plank, about three inches wide, placed or set across the upper edge ofthe cross-piece B,`with their edges against the upright A, and spiked or pinned thereto. The lower board ofthe fence usually rests on them, and helps to hold them in place. of the fence are put on and fastened to the posts in any known way. D is the instrument for forming or digging the holes in the ground for setting the posts when it is too hard to per- Init the post to be driven into it without injuring the post. This former is about the size and form of the post but not larger; and, consequently, does not make a hole so large as to leave the post loose when set. The foriner77 is operated by the foot of the person using it pressing on the top of the cross, or by a sledge or maul for driving it if the ground is hard. After being driven to a proper depth it is loosened and Withdrawn. It is made of metal, and kept smooth. The post is set into the hole and driven down to C, the boards are nailed on, and the fence is then completed. In order to prevent rot, the post is usually, before setting, immersed in coal-tar, melted pitch,

or other preservative, especially that part ofV it set into the ground.- Y I do not claim, broadly, the fastening of clogs to the bottoms of fence-posts, as that is an old device.

l. The cross-piece B, in combination with the upright piece A, when such cross-piece is set into a slot in the bottom of the upright piece, substantially in the manner'and for the' purposes described.

2. I claim the entire fence-post, constructed of wood, with the grain of the wood in C and B running across the grain of the upright piece A, substantially as described.

JOEL F. KEELER.

Witnesses H. J. KEELER, WM. J LOGAN.

The boa-rds 

